News

N5 Billion Libel Suit: Four Years After, Ex-Edo APC Chair, Imuse, Petitions CJ, Wants ‘De Novo’ Trial

Published

1 year ago

August 19, 2024

…As claimant, 2nd, 3rd defendants describe move as unprofessional

A new twist has been introduced to the N5 billion libel suit instituted by the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, against the immediate past Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Col. David Imuse (Rtd), over the latter’s claim at a press conference that Igini was seen in Benin city collecting money from Governor Godwin Obaseki to rig the September 2020 governorship election in the state.

The new twist, which the lawyers to the claimant and other two defendants in the matter said to be in realms of the confirmation of the aphorism that “Justice delayed is justice denied”, is the new petition written by Imuse, through his counsel, Austin Osenrokon, to the Edo State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to order the case to start de novo, following the transfer of the presiding judge, Justice Vestee Eboreime, from the Benin division of the Edo State High Court to the Okada Division.

Imuse’s latest petition is coming four years after the case opened and the claimant and the two co defendants: African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Publishers of the Tribune Titles, and the Sun Newspaper, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively, had opend and closed their defences.

The office of the Edo CJ had since been flooded with letters from the Claimant, Igini, and the two Co-defendants, drawing the attention of the Chief Judge and appealing to him not to grant the unwarranted request of Col. Imuse’s call for starting “de novo” (meaning start over again) of the N5 billion libel suit that had been on for four years when the Claimant, lgini had closed his case

The lawyers pointed out the hardship that such a request (de novo), if granted, would have on them in terms of the huge financial cost they had incurred already such as hotel expenses and traveling cost from Oyo and Enugu States respectively, whenever the matter came up in Benin.

They drew attention to the fact that the 1st defendant and counsel resides in Benin and that the numerous adjournments that this case had suffered were orchestrated by the 1st defendant lawyer whose only aim is to frustrate the case from going on.

According to the Claimant lawyer, for three years, Col. Imuse (Rtd) refused to file a defence and waited for the claimant, lgini to close his case before filing his defence and raised further allegations that the Claimant needed to be recalled to clarify.

However, the move to recall the Claimant was opposed by Imuse and arguments were taken and ruling slated for July 16, 2024, Imuse to open his defence.

Surprisingly Imuse lawyer Osenrokon stood up and wanted to arrest the ruling, arguing that the Judge could no longer preside over the matter having been transferred to Okada Division.

The learned counsel to Igini, Clement Onwewunor (SAN), countered the argument with recent Supreme Court authority that Edo High Court is one and that the 1979 old authority cited had to do with elevation of a Judge to a higher court and even at that, such elevation must have been gazetted before such a judge could be precluded from handling cases from the previous court of elevation.

The SAN further argued that the trial judge in this case was never elevated to Appeal Court, but a routine administrative transfer that had no effect on this case and could not be a reason for the 1st defendant not opening his defence and that the judge was covered by the warrant of the CJ.

The court ruled that it was covered by the CJ warrant and went ahead to deliver its ruling whether Igini could be recalled by his lawyer to clarify new allegations raised by Col. Imuse in his statement of defence not filed and served the Claimant until after lgini had closed his case.

The court ruled that it was only fair and just for the Claimant to be recalled by his lawyer to the witness box to clarify the issues raised in the 1st defendant statement of defence that was not served the Claimant and had no opportunity of responding to the new issue raised before he closed his case.

Immediately after the ruling Col. Imuse lawyer rose up and told the court that he would not participate in the proceeding because of the ruling recalling the Claimant until further instruction by his Client (Col. Imuse.)

The proceedings went on with the Claimant recalled and answered two questions from his lawyer and was discharged and thereafter both the 2nd defendant (Tribune) and 3rd defendant (Sun) opened their defences by calling witnesses that were crossed examined by the lawyer of Claimant, lgini as well as Col. Imuse lawyer, who crossed examined his co-defendants witnesses and both 2nd and 3rd defendants closed their cases that day and only 1st defendant was left to open his defense for the next adjourned date of August 2, 2024, that was overtaken by the national protest.

While counsel were waiting for a new date, information filtered in that Col. Imuse and his lawyer had written another petition like the previously dismissed one by the immediate past CJ, to the current CJ against the trial judge over this case as he had done in 2022. But this time seeking a “de novo trial” after four years of his inability to defend his libelous allegations and never appeared in court in person.

Again, as in the previous petition, seeking the removal of the trial Judge over admissibility of pleaded and relevant documents duly certified, the counsel to Imuse did not copy other parties in the matter.

The office of the then CJ copied all Counsel involved in the matter and were able to respond to the lies and fabrications made against the trial judge about whom they had boasted of enjoying favourable support to frustrate the case because the Judge is of Esan speaking ethnic group with Col. Imuse.

Though Imuse filed an appeal against the ruling, he failed to pursue it; instead, he would rather have the trial Judge, who had indulged him so much, perhaps, to avoid accusation of bias to the extent that a motion for extension of time to file a defence after three years was granted without actual copy of statement of defence attached to the motion, and no evidence of filing fees receipt, yet it was granted despite the opposition of the Claimant’s lawyer, removed from handling the matter. he same Trial judge

The latest move is to use the office of the respected CJ, Justice Okungbowa, to have the matter commenced over again to frustrate the case because the Claimant was recalled to clarify new allegations col. Imuse raised in his defence deliberately filed after Barr. Mike lgini had closed his case. Instead of appealing the ruling, Col. Imuse wants the matter to start all over again by writing a petition to the Chief Judge to use the recent posting of judges to frustrate the matter.

Responding to the new dangerous twist in the libel suit instituted to frustrate the case after four years, the 3d defendant lawyer’s petition to the CJ accused Col. Imuse of causing deliberate delay of this case saying, “It is due to the antics of the counsel to the first defendant that his client has not given evidence up till date when the Claimant, the 2nd and 3rd defendants have all closed their cases.”

Continuing the 3d defendant (SUN Newspaper) stated thus “For the four years this matter has been pending, l have not set my eyes on the 1st defendant. He has not appeared in court in these four years during proceedings.”

Also in his response to the latest petition, counsel to the 2nd Defendant (Tribune), Edema Femi Jarrett, said, “For a counsel who had been in the matter ab initio to just wake up overnight and demand for a de novo trial is totally unacceptable to us as such application lacks no human feelings, lacks no merit, lacks no justifiable ground and above all, is pure abuse of court process.”

News

Edo Targets 2.2 Million Children For Measles, Rubella Vaccination

Published

8 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Government says it is targeting about 2.2 million children aged between 0 and 14 years for measles and rubella vaccination across the state.

The Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Eseigbe Efeomon, who disclosed this during stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting in Benin City, said this would be done in collaboration with development partners.

Efeomon, while noting that the vaccination exercise scheduled to hold simultaneously from January 20 to January 30, 2026, across the 18 local government areas of Edo State at designated health facilities and temporary vaccination posts, said the campaign aims to contribute significantly to the reduction of measles and rubella in Nigeria.

He explained that achieving this target requires increased population immunity through sustained vaccination.

Dr. Efeomon stressed that only qualified and certified health workers would be recruited as vaccinators because the vaccines are injectable.

According to him, the vaccination strategy would involve fixed posts and temporary fixed posts, and vaccination cards would be issued to all vaccinated children as proof, which parents and caregivers are advised to keep for future reference.

He added that vaccination teams would visit schools, churches, mosques, markets, motor parks, internally displaced persons’ camps and other public places, while children who receive the vaccine would be finger-marked to prevent double vaccination.

He reiterated that the overarching goal of the campaign is to drastically reduce rubella incidence nationwide and protect children from preventable diseases through effective immunisation coverage.

Also speaking, the World Health Organization Local Government Facilitator, Mr. Ajaero Paul, described measles and rubella as major causes of death and congenital abnormalities among children globally.

He said both diseases are preventable through the measles-rubella vaccine, which he described as safe and effective,

He added that sustained advocacy is critical to reducing child mortality and lifelong disabilities.

On his part, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Health Officer, Yakubu Suleiman, emphasised that the measles-rubella vaccine is safe and effective for all children aged nine months to 14 years.

He stated that the government has fully paid for the vaccines, making them available at no cost to all eligible children in government health facilities across the state.

Suleiman explained that vaccination not only protects individual children but also safeguards communities from deadly vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and rubella.

He added that even children who had previously received the measles vaccine should still be given the measles-rubella vaccine and appealed to schools and other key stakeholders to support the campaign to ensure that no child is left behind.

News

Togo, Niger, Benin Owe Nigeria Over $17.8m For Supplied Electricity – NERC

Published

12 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

Nigeria’s electricity regulator has disclosed that three neighbouring countries, Togo, Niger and Benin, are indebted to Nigeria to the tune of $17.8 million, equivalent to more than N25 billion at prevailing exchange rates, for power supplied under bilateral electricity agreements.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, made this known in its Third Quarter 2025 report, which reviewed market performance within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.

According to the report, the international customers were billed a total of $18.69 million by the Market Operator for electricity supplied during the third quarter of 2025. However, only $7.125 million was paid, leaving an unpaid balance of $11.56 million for the period under review.

NERC also revealed that the same international offtakers had outstanding legacy debts amounting to $14.7 million from previous quarters. Of this amount, $7.84 million was settled, leaving a residual balance of $6.23 million.

When combined with the Q3 2025 shortfall, the total outstanding debt stood at $17.8 million, which translates to about N25.36 billion at an exchange rate of N1,425 to one US dollar.

The regulator identified the international electricity customers as Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo, Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique of Benin Republic, and Société Nigérienne d’Électricité of Niger Republic.

NERC stated that the three utilities collectively paid just $7.125 million against the $18.69 million invoice issued for electricity supplied in the third quarter, resulting in a remittance performance of 38.09 per cent.

This meant that more than half of the billed amount remained unpaid at the close of the quarter.

The commission explained that the electricity exported to the three countries was generated by grid-connected Nigerian generation companies and delivered through cross-border bilateral power supply arrangements.

By contrast, NERC reported a stronger payment performance among domestic bilateral customers. According to the report, local customers paid N3.19 billion out of the N3.64 billion invoiced for the same quarter, representing a remittance rate of 87.61 per cent.

The regulator further noted that some bilateral customers, both international and domestic, made additional payments to offset outstanding invoices from earlier quarters.

Specifically, the Market Operator received $7.84 million from international customers and N1.3 billion from domestic customers in settlement of previous obligations.

Beyond bilateral transactions, NERC disclosed that Nigeria’s 11 electricity distribution companies remitted a total of N381.29 billion to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and the Market Operator in the third quarter of 2025. This was out of a cumulative invoice of N400.48 billion, translating to an overall remittance performance of 95.21 per cent.

The commission said the figures were derived from reconciled market settlement data submitted as of December 18, 2025, as part of its statutory evaluation of the commercial health and performance of the electricity market.

News

Expert Identify Foods That Increase Hypertension Medication’s Effectiveness

Published

20 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide, contributing significantly to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Despite the availability of effective antihypertensive drugs, long-term control of high blood pressure is often challenging because of drug resistance, side effects, and poor adherence.

This has fueled growing scientific interest in complementary strategies that can enhance drug efficacy while minimising toxicity. One promising approach is the combination of conventional antihypertensive medications with herbs and spices in many kitchens.

Recent evidence suggests that augmenting modern antihypertensive drugs with foods rich in p-coumaric acid, a naturally occurring phenolic acid, may offer a novel and effective strategy for blood pressure control.

Phenolic compounds, commonly found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood vessel–protective properties.

In a study, researchers investigated the combined effects of lisinopril, a widely used antihypertensive drugs and p-coumaric acid on hypertension.

They reported in the Comparative Clinical Pathology that p-coumaric acid enhance the antihypertensive action of lisinopril, potentially allowing for improved blood pressure control without increasing drug dosage.

The study used an established animal model in which hypertension was induced in rats through oral administration of L-NAME, a compound known to suppress nitric oxide production and raise blood pressure.

Following the induction of hypertension, the animals were treated for 14 days with p-coumaric acid (at two different doses), lisinopril alone, or a combination of both.

Untreated hypertensive rats showed significantly elevated activities of key enzymes linked to high blood pressure such as ACE, arginase, acetylcholinesterase, and phosphodiesterase-5 along with increased lipid peroxidation, an indicator of oxidative stress. At the same time, levels of nitric oxide, a critical molecule for blood vessel relaxation, were markedly reduced.

By contrast, rats treated with a combination of lisinopril and p-coumaric acid experienced notable improvements. Blood pressure was better controlled; harmful enzyme activities were reduced, oxidative stress declined, and nitric oxide levels increased. These improvements were mirrored in the tissues the heart compared with untreated hypertensive animals.

They said that the findings suggest that p-coumaric acid may enhance the antihypertensive action of lisinopril, potentially allowing for improved blood pressure control without increasing drug dosage.

This drug–food interaction model is particularly important in the circumstance of long-term hypertension management. Many patients rely on lifelong medication, and strategies that can improve treatment outcomes while reducing side effects are highly desirable.

The study also reinforces the growing recognition that diet is not merely supportive but can be biologically active in disease control.

The use of medicinal plants and plant-based therapies in the management of hypertension is deeply rooted in traditional medicine across many cultures. While such practices have often existed outside conventional healthcare systems, modern scientific research is now providing evidence-based explanations for their effectiveness.

While these findings are based on animal studies and cannot yet be directly translated into clinical recommendations for humans, they open the door to future research on dietary strategies that can safely complement antihypertensive drugs.

Further clinical studies are needed to determine appropriate dosages, safety profiles, and real-world effectiveness.

In the fight against hypertension, the future may lie not only in new drugs, but also in smarter combinations, where medicine and nutrition work together to deliver better, safer outcomes for patients.

Such nutrition to help maintain healthy blood pressure includes garlic, potatoes, walnuts,tomato and tomato products, legumes and citrus fruits (grapefruits and oranges).
(TRIBUNE)